The Six Hidden Steps to Writing a Mystery

Strong characters, challenging plot points, and an ingenious trail of clues are what will captivate readers of a fantastic mystery book. Naturally, you won't discover the secret to writing a smash like Gone Girl. However, we'll assist you in putting on your deerstalker, grabbing a magnifying glass, and deciphering the great mystery architecture code in this page!

1. Examine the mystery subgenres.
What kind of mystery you want to write may already be clear to you. To gain a solid understanding of the mystery genre before you begin, it is still beneficial to read a lot of mystery novels! The following are the typical suspects in the mystery and murder mystery subgenres:

Comfortable mysteries
Small villages with quaint bakeries and attractive mayors are often the setting for cozy mysteries. There is no gore, no severed heads in boxes, and no lotion in the basket, despite the fact that the crime is typically murder. Because of this, these murder mysteries hardly ever feature traumatized witnesses or family members, which makes cozies ideal for a cozy read by the fireplace.

Procedures used by police
Police investigations are frequently the focus of police procedurals (you probably didn't anticipate that). It takes a lot of study to persuade seasoned readers that they are true, and they depict realistic law enforcement activities like witness interrogation and forensic science.

Noir detective fiction
It may surprise you to learn that dark, gritty noir literature preceded the black-and-white movies of femme fatales and cynical gumshoes. They are notorious for putting readers in the dark with their complicated narratives and flawed characters.

The suspense
High stakes and surprising turns are key components of a suspense mystery, which makes it almost impossible to put the book down. As the story progresses, the mystery deepens, hints are carefully placed to reveal precisely the correct amount of information, and the action is continuously building toward a dramatic and frequently startling conclusion.

2. Before you write, do a crime.
Although some writers prefer to work without a plan, the mystery genre is not a good fit for improvisation. You must drip if you want to keep your readers interested and suspenseful. Think about not just who did the crime, but also how and why they did it. Are their techniques unique in any way, or are there particulars you can include that would give your story more depth, such as the odor left by a particular real-life poison or the peculiar injuries caused by an odd weapon? Would anyone else have seen the crime, or believed they saw it? If so, how might your criminal silence them? By outlining and investigating your crime, you can consider any hints that might have been left behind and when to give them to your readers to keep them interested. Just remember to delete your browser's history after using it.

3. Do your homework and choose your location carefully.
The core of mystery is the setting of your book; it creates the ideal mood and usually has a big impact on the plot. However, Allister Thompson, an editor of crime fiction, feels that too many mysteries are set in the same locations. According to him, "the world doesn't need another crime novel set in New York," London, if you're British, or Toronto, if you're Canadian. To do this well, research is necessary. Local news websites ought to provide you a sense of what matters to locals, what issues they deal with, and what makes their city unique. Your mystery will gain depth and authenticity when you learn what might truly transpire in a situation like this.

4. Create a compelling ensemble of people
You'll need to put together a compelling cast of people because mysteries are mostly about human intrigue. It will be lot simpler to pique readers' interest in solving the case if you take the time to fully develop your victim, criminal, suspects, and investigator. Make your detective unforgettable. Whether your sleuth is a chief inspector or a nosy neighbor, they are the eyes and ears of your book, so it's critical that the reader is interested in them right away! Establish some baseline stakes by figuring out your sleuth's motivation in order to accomplish this. What is preventing them? Why don't they just say, "I guess we'll never know," and leave? Would someone who wasn't guilty go to jail? Is the murderer going to attack again? Or is your detective's motivation less altruistic—perhaps a pay raise or a promotion?

Even your "everyman" amateur detective should be a distinct and well-rounded person; your sleuth doesn't have to be a quirky mega-genius like Sherlock Holmes. Give them peculiarities, hobbies, and a life outside from the crime, possibly with a past or relationship to the victim that makes them particularly invested — "this time, it's personal."

Create a profile for your perp.
The first step in writing a murderous culprit is to accurately determine their motivation. This character's motivation for committing a crime is the central theme of your entire plot, thus it must be completely plausible! The question of what the killer stands to gain or lose should always be the first step in determining their motivation, unless you're dealing with a serial killer. The answer will almost certainly have to do with money, passion, or both. If you're writing a cozy, it might also include the frequently mentioned title of "best village baker."

5. Create suspense throughout the narrative
The tension between question and answer is the fundamental element of any successful mystery. It is your responsibility as the author to highlight the appropriate points at the ideal time. Getting your tale shape just right is the greatest approach to guarantee this! All great mystery books have a compelling rise in action, which may be achieved by carefully arranging the transition from the unknown to the known. This is how to accomplish that.

Use a hook to strike them.
There should be a strong first line in every novel, but mysteries are especially good for hooks. A lot of writers begin with the crime. For instance, the first line of Darker than Amber is succinct, surprising, and action-oriented: There isn't a single "correct way" to start a mystery book. However, to ensure that it will grab readers' attention, strive to compose an opener that a) makes them pay attention, b) makes them want to know more, and c) sets the stage.

Connect your clues by pulling out the red string.
Your hook has been successful in drawing readers in! You must now organize your story around the hints that will lead to the solution of your mystery in order to keep them interested. The Fichtean Curve, a form of narrative structure that highlights the increase in action, tension, and mini-crises in an effort to keep readers interested, can be used for this. Plotting must be structured so that, up to the conclusion, every fresh clue heightens the suspense.When the crucial clue appears or your detective discovers the importance of a lost lead, this is the moment. The conclusion of your book follows from what transpires at that moment.

Give your detective some time to reflect.
It's crucial to occasionally slow down your story, even though you might want it to be as action-packed as possible. "You'll want to include more cerebral scenes that show them thinking or talking through their theory of the case," advises Anne Brewer, a mystery editor at Reedsy, in addition to those action-oriented info-finding scenes."These kinds of scenes allow you to let the reader know where the inquiry is headed, as well as to showcase their unique abilities that make them an excellent investigator.

6. Make your mystery better
You should definitely celebrate with champagne and party poppers after finishing your first draft. However, it's time to turn it into a genuinely remarkable mystery! Get the guts to submit your book to the world—the world of beta readers, specifically—after spending the necessary time doing a thorough self-edit.

Readers in beta
The priceless individuals who read your copy and offer candid, outside input are known as beta readers. They can point out plot gaps, identify characters they liked and didn't like, and highlight any other problems you may have missed when making changes. Ask your beta readers to write down their working theories while they read your narrative, in addition to providing general input. In this manner, you can determine whether readers will notice hints at the appropriate time and whether your red herrings are deceiving them just enough.

Expert editor
Even the most gifted beta readers will find it difficult to articulate the recommendations made by a seasoned mystery editor who lives, breathes, and eats these books. A developmental editor will offer you a comprehensive, in-depth assessment of your work during the initial editing stages, assisting you in analyzing characters and rearranging your hints to create a breathtaking ending. There you have it, then! You should have no trouble providing mystery fans with what they want if you adhere to these six steps: an exciting story full of villains, suspense, and hard-working investigators. To begin, however, explore our collection of enigmatic short story openers at Reedsy Prompts if you would like to try out your newfound understanding on a smaller scale.